Britain's Got Talent reject in 'suicide attempt' after failing to make it through to the semi-finals

DJ Scott Whitley performed an energetic song and dance routine
Claims he became depressed after being cut before the semi-finals
The 30-year-old said he was given impression he was a 'cert' to progress

PUBLISHED: 20:20 EST, 31 May 2013 | UPDATED: 11:40 EST, 1 June 2013

176

View
comments

Devastated: Britain's Got Talent contestant Scott Whitley looked distraught when he did not make it to the live semi-finals stage

A contestant rejected by the Britain's Got Talent judges has claimed he tried to commit suicide after failing to make it to the semi-finals of the show.

DJ Scott Whitley, from Orpington, Kent, was initially a favourite of Simon Cowell and his fellow judges with an energetic dance routine and singing he called Funkacise.

The 30-year-old said he had built up his hopes of winning so much he gave up his job as an entertainer in Lanzarote.

But he was left devastated when he failed to make the cut and attempted to take his own life while watching the live semi-final.

'I was really depressed and couldn't stop crying. I just had enough and took pills to try and end it all. Luckily I threw them up when I realised what I was doing,' he told The Daily Mirror.

The entertainer admitted he been 'naive' to stake all his dreams of achieving fame and fortune with the show, but insisted he had been given the impression he was a 'cert' to get through to the next stage by prodcuers.

Britain's Got Talent has come under increasing scrutiny this year with critics raising questions about the welfare of contestants who come under enormous pressure.

Child welfare campaigners have also raised concerns about whether younger contestants are emotionally equipped to deal with possible rejection.

One case which drew particular criticism was five-year-old Jordan Nash who progressed through the auditions.

More...

While the youngster, from London, received positive comments from the judges, there were concerns that he is too young to cope with fame, should he progress to the final stages of the competition.

Scroll down for video

Scott Whitley had thought he was a 'cert' to get through after his act went down well with hosts Ant and Dec

Singer Arisxandra Libantino, 11, remains in the competition and will sing in front of millions next weekend with £250,000 at stake.

Arisxandra burst into tears of relief as she won a tense vote during Monday’s semi-final to go through to the last ten.

But although she impressed the judges with her powerful singing voice, psychologists, campaigners and viewers all expressed concern that she wouldn’t be able to cope with the disappointment if she lost in the final.

It comes only a few weeks after Strictly Come Dancing host Sir Bruce Forsyth condemned talent shows for putting children through the ‘ordeal’ of competing.

Britain’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell responded to those remarks after Arisxandra’s performance on Monday, saying: ‘If you’ve got it, you’ve got it. Who cares how old you are. You’re 11 years old. You’re having a great time, right?

Scott performs Funkacise routine on Britain's Got Talent

Concerns have been raised about whether 11-year-old singer Arisxandra can cope with the pressure of Britain's Got Talent

In 2010 Shirlena Johnson was axed from the X Factor after she 'misled' producers over her mental illness.

The mother performed a bizarre version of Duffy's hit song Mercy on Saturday's show, which saw her clawing at the floor and growling while dressed in tight leopard skin leggings.

But the giggling panel sent her through to the next round, with Simon Cowell telling her: 'I have never heard anything like that in my life. It was like a musical exorcism.

'What I love about you is you are fantastically nuts.'

But Miss Johnson, from East London, was later dropped - under rules introduced by producers after Susan Boyle had a breakdown on Britain's Got Talent - after she made it through the boot camp auditions to the judges' houses stage.

Singer Susan Boyle suffered a breakdown following the final of Britain's Got Tale in 2009

In 2009 TV watchdogs launched an investigation into the treatment of runner-up Boyle after a flood of complaints from viewers.

The Scottish singer, who has learning difficulties, was treated at a private clinic after suffering an emotional breakdown in the aftermath of the show.

Nineteen million viewers watched the beginning of Miss Boyle's meltdown as she was beaten to first place by dance group Diversity.

Within 24 hours, police officers and TV producers had forcibly escorted her to The Priory clinic in north London.

A spokesperson for Britain's Got Talent told the Mirror the show takes its duty of care 'very seriously and contestants are asked to disclose any concerns they have in advance so that we can offer appropriate support.'

Add your comments

Comments (176)

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

View all

the whole concept of bgt is pathetic..the only winners are simon cowell and co.. kids should not be allowed to audition until they are 16..

- stokeace , stoke on trent, United Kingdom, 01/6/2013 22:30

Click to rate Rating 57

Britain has got talent, lots of it, but none of it appears on this "show"!

- Jayar , Elsewhere, 01/6/2013 22:21

Click to rate Rating 41

That's showbusiness! They will chew you up and spit you out while making as much money from you as they can!

- Englandshark , London, 01/6/2013 22:03

Click to rate Rating 46

Why is he going around telling people he tried to commit suicide? Why would you go out of your way to make that public knowledge?

- Gc123x , Leicestershire, 01/6/2013 21:47

Click to rate Rating 93

No one ever became famous from BGT or AGT for that matter, with the exception of Susan Boyle who came second. I haven't heard about Diversity, George Sampson, Spellbound etc in the past few years. - Oli, San Diego, 1/6/2013 8:50 Paul Potts has had Platinum selling albums, and performed in many countries around the world since winning BGT. - living in hope, somewhere over the rainbow, - Who the hell is Paul Potts? Not a household name is he? Not a great artist or a musician of merit? No, just a bloke who can sing other peoples songs in an outdated style of music. So Oli is in fact correct!

- Hug a mugger , London, 01/6/2013 21:36

Click to rate Rating 25

Even those who have won in the past, with very few exceptions, like Susan Ball, are ever seen again. Variety shows are a thing of the past unfortunately! The same with the BBC show The Voice! Who has become famous or seen again on telly, after winning that!

- wendy , alicante, 01/6/2013 21:36

Click to rate Rating 12

Life is full of rejection and knock backs.

- A P please Bob , Town & Country, 01/6/2013 21:25

Click to rate Rating 34

Bit extreme over a reality tv contest don't ya think.

- Batman , huddersfield, United Kingdom, 01/6/2013 21:20

Click to rate Rating 36

Is this some kind of PR stunt Scott? You had a good break and need to accept that a talent show is about the best talent. Can't quite believe at 30 you don't get that idea.

- Kate , Wembley, 01/6/2013 21:18

Click to rate Rating 38

Professional singers, dancers and actors all have multiple rejection as they work their way through audition after audition after audition hoping to make it big. If this guy can't cope with a tv programme rejecting him he would never cope in this industry anyway. Maybe he needs another line of work!

- KA , London., 01/6/2013 21:10

Click to rate Rating 50

Share this comment

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.